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{
    "id": 1382837,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1382837/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 91,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Oketch Gicheru",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I appreciate the committee for coming up with a scientific formula, based on an absolute value of the revenue that we realized in the previous year. That is something that we need to stamp our feet down on. Mr. Speaker, Sir, if you look at all the submissions that were done here, the calculation that was done by the committee would be the best number to stick to. Let us try to push for it, so that we, as a House, stand by counties to get that amount of money, should we get to the DORA. Alongside that, my Chairperson has appreciated the stakeholders that have given their input on this. I also want to invite the House, because we work very closely with our Members of County Assemblies (MCAs). There are some key stakeholders that as a committee, we would want to get more of their voices during the budget making process. This is because a stakeholder such as CAF is key during this process. Their oversight role and assembly working roles are hugely affected by such kind of reports. As we were advancing in this entire budget making process, we have seen a number of places, where members of CAF from different aspects coming to the committee seeking for an enlargement of their ceiling. This happens because sometimes they do not engage much during such a budget making process. Therefore, it will be very important, as the Senate, that we encourage some of these key stakeholders to be giving us input on this particular process. The third area I want to focus on is the fact that the Ministry had adventurously showed us a roadmap, which they are sure of stimulating the economy in some particular areas. I know that the Chair glazed over them. There are nine key sectors to be specific that the National Treasury pointed to. Injection of capital in this BPS will help the economy grow and, therefore, increase revenue in totality. As we look at those areas, I appreciate Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale for bringing to the attention of the committee, which has come up in this report. That while the National Treasury is looking at the nine sectors, there are some sectors in the economy that we have today that are doing well and cannot be ignored in terms of proper budgeting and making sure that the money goes there. One of those sectors is sugarcane industry. While we have seen a lot of focus on the rice industry, which we are supporting, the sugarcane industry affects many counties. We hope that we, as a House, can stress the need to ensure that area of sugarcane can have a bigger bite of the cherry, even as we pass this report, on the monies that have been put in the agricultural budget, which has got one of the biggest allocations that is projected here. I appreciate that the Government of the day has tried in a number of ways. Some of them are a little bit experimental. However, some have worked to the extent that the injection of capital in that industry is needed. If you look at the Western Kenya where Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale and I come from, that includes the Nyanza Area, the entire economy of the people of Migori almost depends on Sony Sugar Company. It is very important that as we look at the injection in the agricultural sector, the sugarcane industry does not lag behind in terms of proper consideration. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services, Senate."
}